Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway Wins Biathlon Mass Start

Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway won the men's 15-kilometer biathlon mass start race on Friday. The biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, where athletes must ski penalty laps for missed targets, creating unpredictable shifts in the standings. Dale-Skjevdal secured the gold medal by being the only competitor to shoot cleanly, hitting all targets. Sturla Holm Laegreid, also of Norway, won silver, finishing 10.5 seconds behind. Quentin Fillon Maillet of France took the bronze medal, 25.6 seconds behind the winner.

At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Norway won its 17th gold medal, setting a new national record for the most gold medals won in a single Winter Olympics. The record-breaking medal was secured by Johannes Dale-Skjevdal in the men’s 15-kilometer mass start biathlon race on Friday, February 20, 2026. The victory highlights Norway's continued dominance in winter sports. Other athletes, including Sturla Holm Laegreid of Norway, Quentin Fillon Maillet of France, and Campbell Wright of the United States, also participated in the biathlon event.